How best to start a Europe summer trip with the family by waking up in New Jersey and going for a road ride? The day would prove to be a long one, and we had a lot of time before things got moving so we spent our morning on the bike, a little prelude to was in store. Came home and got ourselves ready, then waited until launch, which was 1:30 pm. In all, picking up the kids then driving to JFK then long-term parking was an almost 4 hour endeavor. JFK is never easy but we made it. And as soon as you’re at the gate you forget.
The flight is effectively 7pm to 8am but with the time change you’re in the air about 7 hours, not terrible given you’re crossing the Atlantic and going to Europe. The plane was a new 777-200, which was pretty awesome. Having to sit cooped up is never great but we made it. I watched Bad Times at the El Royale which I found good but questionable at times. I tried to sleep a bit but that was a joke.
The plane lands and we deplane to what is a total disaster of an airplane. I am used to flying domestically and it is a surprise to me how much of a mess it is. We quickly get a taxi and head into the city, plunging right into the heart of Monday morning Paris traffic. It takes us a while to get there and in that time it is clear we are all really tired.
We get to the Eiffel Tower and it is far more massive than I had thought. The thing is huge, towering over the city. It is a really cool way to start the city and we are awed by how excellent of a landmark it is. We’re immediately targeted by a scam artist and shake it, but this is a common thing here that we had been warned about.
Our plan was to walk to the first level but it turns out that the elevator is not in service today, so everyone else is in line to walk, and the trip would take 90 minutes. They suggest we come back later so we take off and walk around the park, looking for something to eat and drink, where we find a boulangerie to get some excellent chocolate croissants and some very unimpressive espresso.
After the quick meal we walk more and it’s frankly a chore for our collective unit to stay with it. I know you’re supposed to come here and be amazed but the day is pretty much a stream of, “Where’s the AC?” and, “Can I have a bed to sleep in?” The excitement has given way to reality and all-nighters is not something the kids can handle. A heat wave is coming and we have arrived just in time to catch the start of it.
Regardless, we soldier on and weave our way through a few buildings and parks, past a Winston Churchill statue, and on to the Louvre. It is sold out which is frankly a blessing in disguise as the kids are obliterated. We take stock, then decide to subway back to the Airbnb in Saint Denis to get rid of our luggage and hopefully nap.
But not before being caught in the subway doors, as they close on us as we enter the train. In New York, this is no big deal. In Paris, the doors are much more of a force to be reckoned with and I have to fight this thing to get us on the train. But we make it.
Other than that, the subway is of no issue and we meet the owner early by dumb luck, coming out of the apartment almost as we are arriving, so the timing is perfect and we get in at 1:00. It’s a nice place, our home for the next 3 nights and 4 days.
D and I nap for 90 minutes but this is only because I set the alarm. Even then, it’s hard to shake the sleep off when I finally do wake up. After a bit we get up and go to the store while we let the kids sleep some more. They do not move and have no idea we are gone.
The neighborhood we’re in is very culturally diverse, and we find in the Carrefour we’re the minority being white people in this part of the city. It’s very much as you would expect by watching TV about Paris, whatever that means. It’s not dissimilar to NYC in some ways but at the same time it’s totally different. This is what I like most about the day, just being in the neighborhoods where people live, doing the everyday things.
We go back to the apartment and wake up the kids, who each slept a tad over 3 hours all in all. Julia then Zac take a shower, which we had done before, and it feels amazing. I would shower again later as the heat is tough today. After washing up we eat dinner here, which is fresh bread, cheese, and some meats. This meal is part of what this trip is all about. The cheese & bread here are very affordable. And it’s vacation so we can let it go and just enjoy our meals.
After dinner we sit outside together and talk a bit.
We tie up the day by going for a walk in the park near us, which is next to the Basilica of Saint Denis. It’s a nice evening and a nice park, and serves as a good way to top off the day. While it was a bit of a struggle to make it from Sunday morning in New Jersey to Monday night in Paris, this is a good end of the day and a nice walk through an older, yet well-used and enjoyable city park.
We head back to the apartment and pass the main buildings again and take a closer look. The detail on some of these buildings is amazing, and it’s something you really don’t see on any continent but this one. The architecture is old and articulate, but more importantly well-maintained so stands as a snapshot of what was, and how it currently is.
We stop at another boulangerie across the street from where we’re staying and grab dessert to bring back with us. We gobble these up together, and yes they are as amazing as they look. After that, we lounge around and melt into individual blobs until it is time to go to bed.
It’s been a long day, but a very unique and fantastic start to the trip. Much more to come but this is a great way to kick things off. Tomorrow we can set sail with a full night of sleep under our belts. For today, this is about all we could muster, and it was plenty for the first day!
Traveling Normandy 